Wavelength sensing lighting system and associated methods

ABSTRACT

A lighting system comprising a light source operable to emit a source light, a sensor operable to sense environmental light from an environment, and a controller operatively connected to each of the sensor and the light source and configured to analyze the environmental light sensed by the sensor to at least one of detect and generate data relating to a condition of the environment, the data being transmittable in a transmitted data light. The sensor is operable to sense the presence or absence of a dominant wavelength comprised by the environmental light. Additionally, the controller is operable to correlate the dominant wavelength with a substance.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application under 35 U.S.C. § 120 ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/421,469 titled Wavelength SensingLighting System and Associated Methods filed Feb. 1, 2017 (AttorneyDocket No. 630.00015), which in turn is a continuation application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/054,807 titled Wavelength SensingLighting System and Associated Methods filed Feb. 26, 2016, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,578,710 (Attorney Docket No. 630.00014), which in turn is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/748,691 titledWavelength Sensing Lighting System and Associated Methods filed Jun. 24,2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,307,608 (Attorney Docket No. 630.00013), whichin turn is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/333,200titled Wavelength Sensing Lighting System and Associated Methods forNational Security Application filed Jul. 16, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,125,275 (Attorney Docket No. 630.00012), which is in turn acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/901,169 titledWavelength Sensing Lighting System and Associated Methods for NationalSecurity Application filed May 23, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,818,202(Attorney Docket No. 630.00005), which is in turn a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/300,930 titled Wavelength SensingLighting System and Associated Methods for National Security Applicationfiled Nov. 21, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,515,289 (Attorney Docket No.630.00002), which is related to and incorporates the content of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/269,222 titled Wavelength SensingLighting System and Associated Method filed Oct. 7, 2011 now U.S. Pat.No. 8,492,995 (Attorney Docket No. 630.00001), the contents of each ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in their entireties except tothe extent disclosure therein is inconsistent with disclosure herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of lighting systems and, morespecifically, to lighting systems that can emit and sense light within awavelength range, and associated methods.

Lighting systems have been used to illuminate spaces since the discoveryof fire. Over the years, technology has brought us the incandescentlight, which produces light by heating a metal filament, causing it toradiate heat. Although the incandescent light is capable of illuminatingan area, it does so with little efficiency.

The fluorescent lamp was introduced to provide comparable light whileusing less energy. The fluorescent lamp excites a gas, such as mercuryvapor, within a confined volume. The atoms of the excited gas typicallyproduce ultraviolet light as it moves between energy levels. Theultraviolet light is then absorbed by a conversion material, such as aphosphor. The phosphor may shift the wavelength range of the absorbedlight, emitting a light with longer wavelengths. This shift may be knownto skilled artisans as a Stokes shift. This phosphor-emitted orconverted light may be within the visible spectrum, which may be used toilluminate a space.

Seeking additional efficiency, continuing advancements in technologyhave brought the light emitting semiconductor device, and morespecifically, the light emitting diode. Light emitting diodes may emitlight when driven by an electrical current. Like fluorescent lights,conversion materials may be applied to a light emitting semiconductordevice to alter the wavelength range of the light used to illuminate aspace.

Lighting systems that include a conversion material may convenientlyallow the conversion of a source light emitted from a light source intolight of a different wavelength range. Often, such a conversion may beperformed by using a luminescent, fluorescent, or phosphorescentmaterial. The wavelength conversion materials may sometimes be includedin the bulk of another material, applied to a lens or optic, orotherwise located in line with the light emitted from light source. Insome instances the conversion material may be applied to the lightsource itself. A number of disclosed inventions exist that describelighting devices that utilize a conversion material applied to an LED toconvert light with a source wavelength range into light with a convertedwavelength range.

Additional strategies to reduce power consumption involve controlling alighting system to illuminate a space only when the illumination isrequired. Traditionally, toggle switches have been included in lightingcircuits to allow a user to directly control the operational state ofthe light. Additionally, timers maybe be included in the light circuitto turn a light on and off according to a predetermined or dynamictiming schedule. However, switches and timers offer little flexibilityunless directly engaged by a user.

Sensors may additionally be included in lighting systems to controloperation upon the sensed compliance with a desired event. As anexample, sensors may determine the level of light in a space, which may,in turn, cause a lighting system to be turned on upon sensing that avalue falls below a threshold value. As an additional example, sensorsmay detect the presence of movement in a space to control illumination.However, including dedicated sensors may increase the number of partsand complexity required to build the lighting system, thereby increasingits manufacturing cost.

Additionally, each lighting device may operate independent of otherlighting devices, requiring sensors included in each lighting device,further increasing production costs. Some proposed solutions haveincluded wireless radio transmitters in the lighting systems, to allowcommunication between the devices included therein. However, theinclusion of wireless radios further increases the complexity and numberof components included in the lighting system.

One proposed solution is described in by international patentapplication publications WO 2011/016860, WO 2011/008251, WO 2010/098811,and WO 2010/027459, each by Knapp, and that each involve using the lightemitting semiconductor device to perform the operations of a photodiodeduring portions of the duty cycle when the light emitting semiconductordevice is not emitting light. The aforementioned Knapp applicationsadditionally recite using the light emitting semiconductor devices totransmit and receive bi-directional communication between devicesincluded in the lighting system. However, the Knapp applications employdata transmission methods that may result in redundant datatransmission, decreasing the effective throughput of the system.Additionally, the Knapp applications lack advanced wavelength sensingfunctionality, limiting the effectiveness of the system disclosedtherein.

There exists a need for a wavelength lighting system that can emit anilluminating light and sense an environmental light by altering itsoperational state between various portions of the duty cycle. Therefurther exists a need for a lighting system that can analyze the sensedenvironmental light to alter the characteristics of the nodes includedin the lighting system. There exists a need for a lighting system thatincludes a wavelength conversion material to expand the wavelength rangeof light that may be emitted or detected by a light emittingsemiconductor device. Additionally, there exists a need for a lightingsystem wherein the nodes intercommunicate to increase the effectivenessof the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing in mind, embodiments of the present invention arerelated to a wavelength sensing lighting system that may comprise alight source included in an array to emit illuminating light, the arrayincluding a plurality of light sources, a sensor included in the arrayconfigured to sense environmental light from an environment, and acontroller operatively connected to each of the sensor and the lightsource and may be configured to analyze the environmental light sensedby the sensor to at least one of detect and generate data relating to acondition of the environment, the data being transmittable in a datalight. The controller may be configured to receive the data included inthe data light using the sensor. The controller may be configured toanalyze the data included in the data light and to control thetransmission of the data light from the light source.

In some embodiments, the light source may be selectively operablebetween a sensing operation and an emitting operation, the sensingoperation being defined by the light source sensing the environmentallight, and the emitting operation being defined by the light sourceemitting the illuminating light. Additionally, the array may include aplurality of light emitting semiconductor devices. Furthermore, each ofthe plurality of light emitting semiconductor devices in the array maybe selectively operable between the sensing operation and the emittingoperation.

In various embodiments, the sensor may be configured to sense theenvironmental light substantially simultaneously with the light sourceemitting the illuminating light.

In some embodiments, the light source may include a light emitting diode(LED). Furthermore, the sensor may include a photodiode to sense theenvironmental light.

The lighting system may further comprise a network comprised of nodes;wherein each node includes the light source, the sensor, and thecontroller; and wherein the nodes are configured to intercommunicate bytransmitting and receiving the data light. Additionally, the data lightmay include at least one addressing bit to address the node intended toreceive the data. Furthermore, each of the nodes in the network may beproximately aware of additional nodes in the network. The controller ofeach node included in the network of the nodes may be configured toreceive feedback regarding an analysis performed by another controller.

In some embodiments, the data included in the data light may include atleast one error detection bit, and/or the data light may be defined by adata wavelength defined relative to the illuminating light.

Further embodiments may be directed to a lighting system that mayinclude a network of nodes, each node comprising a light source includedin an array to emit illuminating light, the array including a pluralityof light sources, a sensor included in the array configured to senseenvironmental light from an environment, and a controller operativelyconnected to each of the sensor and the light source and configured toanalyze the environmental light sensed by the sensor to at least one ofdetect and generate data relating to a condition of the environment, thedata being transmittable in a transmitted data light to another node ofthe network of nodes. The controller may be configured to receive dataincluded in a received data light from another node of the network ofnodes using the sensor. Additionally, the controller may be configuredto analyze the data included in the received data light and to controlthe transmission of the data light from the light source.

Additionally, further embodiments may be directed to a lighting systemincluding a network of nodes, each node comprising a light sourceincluded in an array to emit illuminating light, the array including aplurality of light sources, a sensor included in the array configured tosense environmental light from an environment, and a controlleroperatively connected to each of the sensor and the light source andconfigured to analyze the environmental light sensed by the sensor to atleast one of detect and generate data relating to a condition of theenvironment, the data being transmittable in a transmitted data light toanother node of the network of nodes. The controller may be configuredto receive data included in a received data light from another node ofthe network of nodes using the sensor. Additionally, the controller maybe configured to analyze the data included in the received data lightand to control the transmission of the data light from the light source.Furthermore, the controller of each node included in the network of thenodes may be configured to receive feedback regarding an analysisperformed by at least one other controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lighting system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a lighting system according to anembodiment of the present invention showing a plurality of lightemitting semiconductor devices arranged in an array.

FIG. 3 is schematic diagram of an array of light emitting semiconductordevices in a lighting system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic diagrams depicting an array of light emittingsemiconductor devices on a substrate and arranged to emit illuminatinglight in various directions (FIGS. 3A-3D) and receive environmentallight from various directions (FIG. 3E).

FIGS. 3F-3J are schematic diagrams depicting an array of light emittingsemiconductor devices on a substrate in a lighting system according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3X is a schematic diagram depicting an array of light emittingsemiconductor devices in a lighting system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams of embodiments of switchingcircuits of the lighting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the lighting system according to anembodiment of the present invention showing a power supply.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network ofnodes in a lighting system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective schematic diagram of a lighting device that maybe included in the lighting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 9-12 are schematic diagrams illustrating embodiments of datacommunication in the lighting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 13-16 are flow charts illustrating method aspects of embodimentsof the present invention.

FIGS. 17-17B are state diagrams illustrating modulation cycles of alight emitting semiconductor device in the lighting system according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a timing diagram providing a graphical chart of switching thelight emitting semiconductor device between the emitting operation andthe sensing operation in the lighting system according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a chart illustrating a figure of events that may occur in anenvironment and sensed using the lighting system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a chart illustrating relative intensity of environmentallight sensed by the lighting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention corresponding with time.

FIGS. 21-28 are schematic diagrams of an array of light emittingsemiconductor devices of the lighting system according to an embodimentof the present invention wherein some of the light emittingsemiconductor devices are in an emitting operation and some of the lightemitting semiconductor devices are in a sensing operation.

FIGS. 29-30 are schematic diagrams showing a correlation of data sensedin a data light using the lighting system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention to an image.

FIG. 31 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of light emittedby an infrared LED, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of lightdetectable by an infrared LED, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of light emittedby a blue LED, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of lightdetectable by a blue LED, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of light emittedby a blue LED, which includes light converted by a wavelength conversionmaterial, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of lightdetectable by a blue LED, which includes light converted by a wavelengthconversion material, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of light to bedetected in an example, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 38 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of light by adetected in an example, which has been converted by a wavelengthconversion material, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram of detecting an object in an environment,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG. 39, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a time line relating to the events of the flowchart of FIG.39, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram of an array of light emitting semiconductordevices to communicate data light using multiple channels, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a diagram indicating the relative luminosity of the channelsgenerated by the array of FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is a block diagram of detecting a substance in the environment,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 45A, 45C, and 45E are diagrams indicating the relative luminosityof the channels generated by the array of FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a block diagram of detecting a substance in the environmentusing a wavelength conversion material, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 47A-E are diagrams indicating the relative luminosity of thechannels generated by the array of FIG. 46.

FIGS. 48-51 are schematic diagrams showing a correlation of data sensedin a data light using the lighting system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention to an image.

FIG. 52 is a diagram of an image created from sensed environmentallight, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 53 is a diagram of an image created from sensed environmentallight, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 54 is a diagram of an image created from sensed environmentallight, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 55 is a top plan view of an array of nodes located along a roadway,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 56 is a front perspective view of an object sensed on the roadwayillustrated in FIG. 55, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those ofordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of theembodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are notintended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the presentinvention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons havingthe benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout.

In this detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, aperson skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as“above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used forthe convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, aperson skilled in the art should notice this description may containother terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction withoutdeparting from the principles of the embodiments of the presentinvention.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/269,222 titled “WAVELENGTH SENSING LIGHTING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATEDMETHODS,” the inventors of which include the inventors of the presentapplication, on Oct. 7, 2011. The entire contents of the Ser. No.13/269,222 application is hereby incorporated by reference. Theinformation incorporated is to be considered as much a part of thepresent disclosure as if the text was repeated in the application, andshould be treated as part of the text of the present disclosure.Accordingly, although FIGS. 1-30 are referenced in this application, nofurther discussion regarding these drawings and the patent referencenumbers illustrated therein, are necessary.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 31-56, a wavelength sensing lightingsystem 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is nowdescribed in greater detail. Throughout this disclosure, the wavelengthsensing lighting system 10 may also be referred to as a lighting system10, system, device, embodiment, or the invention. Alternate referencesto the wavelength sensing lighting system 10 in this disclosure are notmeant to be limiting in any way. A person of skill in the art, afterhaving the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that the presentinvention may include embodiments that perform total, partial, andminimal conversion of a source light 42 into a converted light 46.Additionally, skilled artisans will appreciate that, in embodiments withpartial wavelength conversions, the remaining, unconverted source light42 may be combined with the converted light 46 to be directed in thedesired output direction, for example, to illuminate a space or to sensea condition in the environment.

Additionally, in the following disclosure, a light source is disclosedas a component of the lighting system 10, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. The light source may be a light emittingsemiconductor device 40, which may be referenced throughout thefollowing disclosure. Additionally, a sensor may be discussed to senseenvironmental light 48. The sensor may be a light source, such as lightemitting semiconductor device 40. The light emitting semiconductordevice 40 may include, among other devices, a light emitting diode(LED). In embodiments of the present invention, the operation of thesensor may be performed by a light source, such as a light emittingsemiconductor device 40. As a result, the light emitting semiconductordevice 40 should be assumed to collectively include the light source andthe sensor in at least one embodiment of the present invention.

Furthermore, in the following disclosure, a controller 61 may bediscussed to analyze the environmental light 48 sensed by the sensor andcontrol the emission of illuminating light 44 by the light source. Thesensor and the light source may be a light emitting semiconductor device40. The controller 61 may collectively include an analysis processor toanalyze sensed environmental light 48 and a lighting controller 61 tocontrol emitting illuminating light 44.

The controller 61 may be a computerized device capable of sending,receiving, and analyzing data and electronic signals. The controller 61may control one or more light source, which may be included in an array39. However, the functionality of the controller 61 should not belimited to light source controlling operations. The controller 61 mayadditionally accept and analyze data or electronic signals received fromone or more sensor. The controller 61 may perform the operations of bothan analysis processor and a lighting controller 61, among numerous otheroperations that would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Skilledartisans will additionally appreciate that the controller 61 may bedescribed broadly herein as a computerized device to performcomputational operations, including processing data.

Skilled artisans will appreciate additional embodiments of a lightsource, for example, and without limitation, electroluminescent, laser,incandescent, and fluorescent light sources. Although the light sourcemay be discussed in regard to a specific embodiment of a light emittingsemiconductor device 40, a person of skill in the art will appreciatethat additional light sources may be included with the operation of thevarious embodiments of the present invention, are intended to beincluded within the scope of the same. As a result, skilled artisansshould not view the use of a light emitting semiconductor device 40through this disclosure as limiting the scope of the light source.

As previously discussed in the disclosure incorporated herein, a lightemitting semiconductor device 40 may be used as a lighting device and/orsensor, which may emit illuminating light 44 and/or detect environmentallight 48 from a plurality of directions. More specifically, and withoutlimitation, an LED may be operable as a photodiode in replacement oraddition to being a light emitter. LEDs are also capable of detectingincident light and producing an output voltage dependent on theintensity and the wavelength of such incident light. The lighting system10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, mayadvantageously be implemented using an LED as a source of light emissionand device for light detection, advantageously decreasing the complexityand manufacturing cost of the system 10.

The efficiency of a light emitting semiconductor device 40, such as anLED, operating as a light detecting sensor may not be as good as thatachieved by a dedicated sensor, such as a photodiode or aphototransistor. However, light emitting semiconductor devices 40 canprovide enough sensitivity to allow their use as photodetectors for aplurality of applications consistent with the scope of the presentinvention. Typically, if an LED is inserted into an electronic circuitthat may normally accept a dedicated photodiode sensor, the LED mayperform significantly the same operation as the dedicated photodiode.The LED may be switched between an emitting circuit, detecting circuit,and any other circuit, as it has been contemplated in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The LED, much like a typicalphotodiode, may be sensitive to a wavelength range that is equal orlesser than the light that would be emitted by the LED. In other words,an LED operating as a sensor may typically detect light comprised ofwavelengths equal to and shorter than the wavelengths that could beemitted by the LED.

In one embodiment, sequential and temporally correlated PWM ofindividual LEDs of an array 39 may be operated in conjunction withtemporally correlated sensing function to sense one or more condition ofan environment. For example, in one embodiment, a single LED may bepowered to emit illuminating light. Additional LEDs in the array 39 maybe used for detection of environmental light 48 (e.g., during one ormore duty cycles). In another embodiment, scanning along particulargeometries of the array 39 can be used to resolve environmental signals,e.g., scanning along the vertical, horizontal, or diagonals of arectangular or otherwise shaped array 39. Alternatively or additionally,multi-color detection of environmental light 48, including the use ofmetameric whites, can be used for greater resolution. Signal processingof the sensed data correlated with the illuminating light 44 is used tocharacterize the environment. Mathematical analysis and signalprocessing techniques including Fourier transforms may be used toanalyze the data.

In another embodiment, optics may be applied to one or more lightemitting semiconductor devices 40, or portions of light emittingsemiconductor devices 40 included in the array 39 or across the network69, to improve the resolution at which a condition of the environment isdetected. The resolution may be improved by allowing one or more lightemitting semiconductor device 40 to detect different regions of anilluminated space. For example, LEDs may illuminate and/or detectmultiple directions substantially simultaneously.

Provided without the intent to limit the present invention, someexamples of an LED, an illustrative type of light emitting semiconductordevice 40, operating as a sensor will now be discussed. In a firstexample, an infrared LED may be included in a circuit as a photodiode.The infrared LED may emit illuminating light 44 with an approximatewavelength of 1400 nanometers. This may result in the infrared LED beingusable as a photodetector to detect infrared light with wavelengthsshorter than 1400 nanometers, visible light, and ultraviolet light.However, the illuminating light 44 emitted by the infrared LED may notbe detected by a human without first being converted into visible light.

As another example, a blue LED may be included in a circuit as aphotodiode. The blue LED may emit illuminating light 44 with anapproximate wavelength of 460 nanometers. This illuminating light 44 mayinclude high efficacy light which would be visible to humans. However,the blue LED may only be capable of detecting environmental light 48with wavelengths shorter than 460 nanometers, which may includeadditional blue light and ultraviolet light, without performing somewavelength conversion operation on the environmental light 48 prior todetection.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that one or more LEDs maybe included in the array 39 to emit illuminating light 44 within anacceptable wavelength range, and detect environmental light 48 within anacceptable wavelength range. For example, an array 39 may include aplurality of blue LEDs and a plurality of infrared LEDs. The blue LEDsmay emit an illuminating light 44 that may be detectable to humans.Additionally, the infrared LEDs may detect an environmental light 48within the visible spectrum. In this example, infrared LEDs would beable to detect at least part of the light emitted by the blue LEDs.

In another example, one or more wavelength conversion material 30 may belocated between the LED and the environment to convert the wavelengthrange of light. The wavelength conversion material 30 may perform aStokes shift, wherein the conversion material 30 may absorb one or morephoton, an elementary particle of light, from a source light 42. Theabsorbed photon may cause the conversion material 30 to enter an excitedstate. The conversion material 30 may then emit a photon, allowing theconversion material 30 to relax from the excited state as it emitsconverted light 46. The photon of the converted light emitted by theconversion material 30 during a Stokes shift may have less energy thanthe absorbed source light photon.

Another type of wavelength conversion material 30 may perform ananti-Stokes shift, wherein the conversion material 30 may emit aconverted light 46 with higher energy, and thus shorter wavelengths,than the absorbed source light 42. The higher energy of the convertedlight 46 resulting from an anti-Stokes shift may result from thecombining of two or more photons of a lower energy state to create onephoton of a higher energy state. This process may be known generally toskilled artisans as photon upconversion. Additionally, the higher energyof the converted light 46 emitted by an anti-Stokes conversion material30 may be due to dissipation of thermal phonons in a crystal lattice, aswill be understood by a person of skill in the art.

A wavelength conversion material 30, as it is defined in regard to thepresent invention, may include one or more conversion materials. Forexample, without limitation, the wavelength conversion material 30 mayinclude two types of phosphors to convert a blue source light intoyellow and red converted lights. As an additional example, theconversion material 30 may include a first conversion material 30 toperform a Stokes shift and a second conversion material 30 to perform ananti-Stokes shift. For example, the first conversion material 30 mayconvert the blue light emitted by a blue LED into white light, which maybe more visually pleasing to an observer. The second conversion material30 may convert a source environmental light 48 into blue or ultravioletlight, which may be detected by the blue LED. By including both a Stokesand anti-Stokes conversion material 30, the LED may emit and detectlight within a significant range of the visible spectrum with respect tothe respective wavelength conversions. Also, with respect to the presentexample, a Stokes conversion of infrared light and an anti-Stokesconversion of blue light may be inconsequential to the operation, as theconversion may simply convert a portion of the source light 42 intoconverted light 46 outside of the visible spectrum.

Referring now to FIGS. 31-36, illustrative wavelength ranges will now bediscussed in relation to the light emitted and detected by a lightemitting semiconductor device 40, such as an LED. The followingdiscussion will be directed to using an LED as the light emittingsemiconductor device 40. However, a person of skill in the art willappreciate that additional light emitting semiconductor devices 40 maybe included in the lighting system 10, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and without limitation. Additionally, theillustrative waveforms illustrated in FIGS. 31-34 contemplate theemission of illuminating light 44 and the detection of environmentallight 48 without the use of a conversion material 30 to perform awavelength conversion.

Referring now to the illustrative waveforms of FIGS. 31-32, the lightemitted and detected by an infrared LED will now be discussed. FIG. 31illustrates the illuminating light 44 that may be emitted by anillustrative infrared LED, which may include illuminating light 44characterized by long wavelengths. The wavelength range of theilluminating light 44 emitted by the infrared LEDs may be outside of thevisible spectrum. FIG. 32 illustrates the environmental light 48 may bedetected by the infrared LED, which may include a wavelength range ofenvironmental light 48 with wavelengths less than the illuminating light44 emitted by the infrared LED. Since environmental light 48 in thevisible spectrum would include light defined by wavelengths shorter thaninfrared light, the infrared LED may detect substantially the entirewavelength range of environmental light 48 in the visible spectrum.

Referring now to the illustrative waveforms of FIGS. 33-34, the lightemitted and detected by a blue LED will now be discussed. FIG. 33illustrates the illuminating light 44 that may be emitted by the blueLED, which may include illuminating light 44 characterized by relativelyshort wavelengths. The wavelength range of the illuminating light 44emitted by the blue LEDs may be included in the visible spectrum,however toward the narrow wavelength range of visible light. FIG. 34illustrates the environmental light 48 that may be detected by the blueLED, including a small wavelength range of visible light that mayinclude environmental light 48 characterized by shorter wavelengths thanthe blue illuminating light 44 emitted by the blue LED. Since the blueLED may not detect wavelength longer than the blue light emitted by theblue LED, it may not be able to detect a significant wavelength range ofenvironmental light 48 in the visible spectrum.

Referring now to FIGS. 35-36, the light emitted and detected by a blueLED that includes a conversion material 30 between the LED and theenvironment will now be discussed. More specifically, a blue LED with aconversion material 30 capable of performing a Stokes shift and ananti-Stokes shift, according to an embodiment of the present invention,will now be discussed. FIG. 35 illustrates the illuminating light 44that may be emitted by the blue LED, which may include illuminatinglight 44 characterized by relatively short wavelengths. FIG. 35additionally may include a wavelength range of illuminating light 44that has been converted by the conversion material 30 to approximatelythe wavelength range of yellow light. Skilled artisans will appreciatethat the blue source light 42 emitted by the blue LED and the yellowconverted light 46 emitted by the conversion material 30 may be combinedto create approximately white light.

Referring additionally to FIG. 34, the environmental light 48 that maybe detected by the blue LED may include a small wavelength range ofvisible light, which may include environmental light 48 with wavelengthsshorter than the blue illuminating light 44 emitted by the blue LED.However, the wavelength range of detectable environmental light 48 mayadditionally include environmental light 48 characterized by longerwavelengths than the light natively detectable by the blue LED.

The anti-Stokes conversion material 30 may convert the nativelyundetectable wavelengths of a environmental source light 42 intoconverted light 46 detectable by the blue LED. Since the blue LED maydetect wavelengths shorter than its emittable blue light that, and sincethe conversion material 30 may convert the long wavelength light intoshort wavelength light, the blue LED may then be able to detect asignificant wavelength range of the visible spectrum.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 37-38, an illustrative conversionand detection of a wavelength range of environmental light 48 outside ofthe detectable spectrum of a blue LED will now be discussed. Skilledartisans will appreciate that the following discussion is provided as anexample, in the interest of clarity, and without limitation. Skilledartisans will additionally appreciate that any number of LEDs, or otherlight emitting semiconductor devices 40, may be used in similaroperation, and are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, those of skill in the art will not viewembodiments of the present invention to be limited to the inclusion ofblue LEDs.

Referring now to FIG. 37, a model environmental light 48 will now bediscussed that includes a peak of light to be detected by the lightingsystem 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theaforementioned peak of environmental light 48 is indicated as the point91. As illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 37, the blue LED may emitilluminating light 44 defined by a shorter wavelength range than thewavelength range of environmental light 48 indicated by point 91. Sincethe blue LED may not natively detect environmental light 48 withwavelengths longer than the light it emits, the blue LED may not be ableto detect the peak of environmental light 48 indicated by point 91 ofFIG. 37 without a prior wavelength conversion, such as an anti-Stokesconversion.

The wavelength range of environmental light 48 indicated by point 91 maybe absorbed by a wavelength conversion material 30 as source light 42.The wavelength conversion material 30 may then emit a converted light 46that includes at least part of the peak of light indicated by point 91,but characterized by a lower wavelength range than which the peak oflight indicated by point 91 was absorbed by the conversion material 30.This shift of wavelengths is illustrated in FIG. 38. The converted peakof light indicated by point 91 may then be emitted by the conversionmaterial 30 at with shorter wavelengths than the wavelength range ofilluminating light 44 emittable by the blue LED, thus allowing the peakof light indicated by point 91 to be detected by the blue LED.

An array 39 of light sources and sensors may be comprised of lightemitting semiconductor devices 40, which may perform the operation ofthe light source and the sensor. More specifically, and withoutlimitation, the array 39 may include a plurality of LEDs configured tooperate to emit illuminating light 44 and detect environmental light 48.The array 39 of LEDs may include one or more types of LEDs, configuredto emit and detect different wavelength ranges of light. For example,the array 39 may include one or more of a blue LED, monochromatic LED,white LED, infrared LED, and any other light emitting semiconductordevice 40. Each LED or other light source included in the array 39 mayadditionally have a wavelength conversion material 30 located betweenthe respective light source and an environment. The wavelengthconversion material 30 may convert the wavelengths of the lighttransmitted between the light emitting semiconductor device 40 and theenvironment. As a result, the array 39 may detect a plurality ofdiscrete and/or overlapping wavelength ranges of environmental light 48,which may be analyzed by the controller 61 to determine a condition ofthe environment.

Additionally, the array 39 may include light sources and sensors, whichmay be light emitting semiconductor devices 40, in single- ormulti-dimensional configurations. For example, an approximately linearlength of light emitting semiconductor devices 40 may be included in aone-dimensional array. Additionally, a plane of light emittingsemiconductor devices 40 may be included in a two-dimensional array. Theplane of light emitting semiconductor devices 40 may be configured in,but not limited to, rectangular or circular arrays. Furthermore,three-dimensional array 39 may include light emitting semiconductordevices 40 located on different planes from one another in the array 39,which may emit illuminating light 44 and detect environmental light 48from a plurality of directions. In one embodiment, a multi-dimensionalarray 39 may include a plurality of light emitting semiconductorsdevices 40 to emit illuminating light 44 in an outward direction,independent of one another. An example of this embodiment may includelight emitting semiconductors being located on a surface of a sphericalobject and configured to emit light in a direction projecting outwardfrom the center of the spherical object.

As another embodiment, the multi-dimensional array 39 may be configuredto at least partially enclose a space. An example of this embodiment mayinclude light emitting semiconductors being located on ceilings, walls,floors, and other points of a room. A person of skill in the art willappreciate additional configurations of multi-dimensional arrays 39 tobe included in the scope and spirit of the present invention, afterhaving the benefit of this disclosure.

The environmental light 48 detected by the LED, or other light emittingsemiconductor device 40, may be communicated to a controller 61 or othersignal processing device. A person of skill in the art will appreciatethat the term controller 61, as it is defined herein, may describe asingle controller 61 that may analyze the environmental light 48 sensedby the LED, light emitting semiconductor device 40, or other sensor, andcontrol the emission of illuminating light 44 by the LED, light emittingsemiconductor device 40, or other light source. Additionally, skilledartisans will appreciate an embodiment wherein the term controller 61may include multiple controllers 61, such as an analysis processor toanalyze sensed environmental light 48 and a lighting controller 61 tocontrol emitting illuminating light 44. The analysis processor and thelighting controller 61 may be communicatively connected, and mayoptionally operate separately or as one monolithic unit.

In one embodiment, information generated by one or more photodetector,or other data comprising light detected by a sensor, may be received andprocessed by an analysis processor to generating information about theenvironment. In one embodiment, the processed data may be used todetermine or infer information about the environment such as, but notlimited to, object detection, location, motion, mass, direction, size,color, heat signature, or other information that may be associated withan object or the environment.

In another embodiment, environmental light 48 sensed by a photodetectoror other sensor may be processed by an operatively connected controller61 or processor 62. The data may be used to control one or more lightsources to emit illuminating light 44, which may include data light 45to be received by a sensor or photodetector. For example, if initialdata is sensed by a first sensor, and analyzed by the controller 61 toindicate the presence of an object at a location in the environment, oneor more light source may be modulated to confirm object detection,further resolve object features or location, or obtain additional dataregarding the environment based on the data sensed by the sensor.

The lighting system 10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, may analyze one or more condition of the environment. Forexample, the lighting system 10 may analyze whether motion is present inthe environment. As another example, the lighting system 10 maydetermine the luminosity of environmental light 48 included in theenvironment. The determination of luminosity may be performed generallyacross all sensed environmental light 48, or specifically with regard toone or more wavelength ranges of the environmental light 48.Additionally, the sensors of the lighting system 10 may be configured todetect the presence of environmental light 48 with a discretewavelength, such as, for example 445 nanometers.

As previously mentioned, an array 39 may include a plurality of lightemitting semiconductor devices 40, such as LEDs, configured to emit anddetect light. Skilled artisans will appreciate the use of LEDs in thisdisclosure is not intended to limit the present invention to includingsolely LEDs as the light source and/or sensor. The LEDs included in thearray 39 may be modulated between states wherein illuminating light 44is and is not emitted. During the states wherein illuminating light 44is not being emitted, the LED may be used to detect environmental light48. The modulation of the LEDs may be controlled by the controller 61.

In one embodiment, the LEDs may be modulated between emitting anddetecting light to allow detection of the light emitted by the same LED.This modulation may be performed by the controller 61. To detect its ownlight, an LED and its corresponding switching circuit would have toswitch between emitting illuminating light 44 and detectingenvironmental light 48 in less time than it would take for theilluminating light 44 to be emitted, reflected from the environment, anddetected by the.

Alternatively, one or more LED included in the array 39 may beconfigured to sense the light emitted by one or more other LED includedin the array 39. The timing of the various LEDs included in the array 39may be controlled by the controller 61. In one embodiment, two or moreLEDs in the array 39 may be configured such that at least one LED mayreceive a desired wavelength range of environmental light 48, which mayinclude light previously or simultaneously emitted by another LED in thearray 39. Through matching the wavelength ranges of illuminating light44 emitted by one LED in the array 39, and environmental light 48detected by another LED in the array 39, the lighting system 10 maydetermine a condition of the environment. Additionally, a plurality ofLEDs may be included in the array 39 and configured to detect the lightreflected from the environment that may have originated from other LEDsin the array 39. As the number of LEDs in the array 39 may increase, thenumber of conditions detected in the environment may also increase.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that LEDs included in the array 39 maybe configured to emit and detect light emitted by any number ofadditional LEDs in the array 39. In other words, the LEDs need not bepaired to emit and detect the same light as one another. Additionally,multiple arrays 39 may be connected through a network 69, allowing onearray 39 to detect the light emitted by another array 39. The datarelating to the light detected by another array 39 may beintercommunicated between the emitting and detecting arrays across thenetwork 69.

The environmental light 48 detected by the sensors of the array 39 maybe transmitted to a controller 61 as data. The controller 61 mayconcatenate the data to create an image. The resolution of the imagedetected by the array 39 may be determined relative to the number ofpoints in the environment from which environmental light 48 is detected.For example, a simple one-dimensional array 39 including fiveforward-facing, linearly-aligned LEDs may be capable of producing animage with a resolution of one pixel by five pixels.

In some embodiments, a higher resolution image may be desired. A highresolution image may be produced, for example, by increasing the numberof pixels to be included in the image. Due to the small scale at whichsemiconductor devices may be produced, a substantial number of lightemitting semiconductors may be included in the array 39 to additionallysense environmental light 48 from a plurality of directions, effectivelyincreasing the resolution of the respective image.

Adding additional sensors, such as LEDs, to the array 39 may increasethe number of points in the environment to be detected by the array 39.Alternatively, including the sensors on a piezoelectric substrate, whichis intended to generally include a plurality of deformable substratetypes, may increase the points of an environment that may be sampled bya sensor. By allowing each sensor to detect environmental light 48 frommultiple points in an environment, the size requirement of an array 39needed to detect conditions of an environment with high resolution maybe advantageously reduced. Additionally, including a large number ofLEDs located on piezoelectric substrates in an array 39 may providedetection of conditions of an environment with increased resolution oversensors located on a fixed substrate.

The array 39 may be connected to, and intercommunicate with, additionalarrays 39 as nodes in a network 69. The environmental light 48 sensed byeach sensor in the node and analyzed by the controller 61 of the node,may be intercommunicated between the nodes throughout the network 69. Byincluding a plurality of nodes in the network 69, the data detected byeach node can be concatenated with data detected from other nodes toincrease the resolution at which a condition of the environment with maybe determined over the resolution available from a single node. Theincreased resolution of the environmental light 48 detected at each nodemay be collectively concatenated to produce a visual representation ofone or more condition of the environment.

Where two or more nodes and/or arrays 39 are included in the lightingsystem 10, the driving time of one node or array 39 may be coordinatedwith the driving and/or detecting time of another node in the network69. An example of a driving time may be the PWM timing and phaseprotocol for driving an array 39 or node for emitting illuminating light44 and/or detecting environmental light 48. The coordination of thisoperation may be controlled by a controller 61 communicatively connectedto the array 39, light emitting semiconductor device 40, or otherwiseincluded in the node. The coordination may be used to control bothemission and detection of light.

An example of visually detecting a condition of the environment will nowbe discussed. A two-dimensional visual representation of a condition ofthe environment may be an image. The image may be formed byconcatenating the luminosity and/or wavelength data gathered from eachpoint in the environment. Moreover, a plurality of images may beconcatenated to create a moving picture, or video, of the environment.The video may be streamed directly to an interface device bytransmitting data light 45 and/or using a data transmission protocolknown within the art. The video may also be stored in memory 64, whereinit may be accessed, downloaded, and/or viewed concurrent or at a latertime.

The images created from the sensed environmental light 48 may also becompared with previously or subsequently created images. For example,sequential images may be compared to detect differences between eachimage. The difference between the images may be analyzed to detect acondition, such as motion. Additionally, the controller 61 may furtheranalyze the motion detected between a plurality of images to detect thedistance and/or velocity of the motion. A person of skill in the artwill appreciate that velocity is defined to include the rate anddirection in which the position of an object may change. Skilledartisans will also appreciate that the images compared to detect motion,or another condition of the environment, may not be sequential.

The lighting system 10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, may detect the distance between the system 10 and an objectin the environment. In one embodiment, the lighting system 10 may tag orindicate light emitted from the light source as marker light 49, whichmay be detectable by a sensor. The light source and the sensor may, forexample, and without limitation, be an LED. Also, the light indicated asmarker light 49 may be viewed as a segment of light that includes anidentifying characteristic.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that the marker light 49 may beincluded in illuminating light 44 emitted into the environment andenvironmental light 48 sensed from the environment. The illuminatinglight 44 that includes the marker light 49 may be reflected from a pointof reflection 50 in the environment, after which it may be received asenvironmental light 48 by a sensor, such as an LED configured to detectenvironmental light 48.

In one example, the marker light 49 may include a specific wavelengthrange as the identifying characteristic. As a specific example, andwithout limitation, a pulse of marker light 49 may be emitted by an LEDinto the environment with a wavelength of 485 nanometers. The markerlight 49 may be natively emitted or converted by a conversion material30 to achieve the desired wavelength range that may indicate the markerlight 49. An LED operating to detect environmental light 48 maysubsequently sense the pulse of marker light 49.

In an additional example, the marker light 49 may include one or morebits of digitally encoded information. This information may identify thesegment of marker light 49. The digitally encoded marker light 49 mayinclude a pattern of high and low values, such as zeros and ones, whichmay be sensed by a sensor and communicated to a controller 61. Thedigitally encoded marker light 49 sensed in the environmental light 48may then be compared with the digital encoding of the emitted markerlight 49 to determine whether the digitally encoded signal is the same.

The controller 61 may be connected to both the emitting LED and thesensing LED. The controller 61 may detect the delay between the emissionof the marker light 49 and the detection of the marker light 49. Thecontroller 61 may analyze the delay to determine the relative distanceof an object in the environment.

In some instances, at least one LED may detect the marker light 49 as itis being emitted by another LED included in the lighting system 10,which may be communicated to the controller 61, which may create anerror by having effectively having approximately no delay. Thecontroller 61 may perform error detection by determining that thedetection of marker light 49 without an accompanying delay may not havebeen reflected from a point of reflection 50 in the environment. Inthese instances, the controller 61 may disregard the sensed marker light49 without an accompanying delay. The controller 61 may thensubsequently detect the marker light 49 with an accompanying delay. Thisdelay may be indicative that the marker light 49 has been reflected froma point of reflection 50, which may be due to an object in theenvironment.

Referring now to FIGS. 39-41, an illustrative operation of detecting adelay using marker light 49 will now be discussed. The block diagram ofFIG. 39 and the flow chart 250 of FIG. 40, along with the timeline ofFIG. 41, illustrate the operations of flowchart 250 plotted relative tothe time of each operation. Starting at Block 251, the delay detectingoperation may begin. The marker light 49 may be emitted by lightemitting semiconductor device 40, which may be included in an array 39of light emitting semiconductor devices 40 (Block 252). The marker light49 may then be reflected from a point of reflection 50 (Block 254). Atleast part of the reflected marker light 49 may be directed back to thelight emitting semiconductor device 40, or array 39 of light emittingsemiconductor devices 40, which may detect the light. Additionally, thereflected marker light 49 may be directed to another light emittingsemiconductor device 40 included in a network 69 connected node, whichmay intercommunicate with the node that emitted the marker light 49. Thereflected marker light 49 may be included in environmental light 48,which may be sensed by a light emitting semiconductor device 40 (Block256). The controller 61 may then determine the distance of the objectfrom the lighting system 10 by analyzing the delay (Block 258). Theoperation may then terminate at Block 259.

As an additional example, in a three-dimensional array 39, theenvironmental light 48 detected by the sensors of the array 39, oralternatively the sensors included within a node of the network 69, todetermine a three-dimensional representation of the environment. Thedistance of an object detected by sensors included in the array 39 ornetwork 69 may be concatenated to generate a three-dimensional model ofthe environment. As distances may be calculated from different angles,detail may be added to the three-dimensional model of the environment.Also, the three-dimensional model of the environment may be continuallyupdated as the sensors continue to sample the environment. Like withimages and videos, the three-dimensional model of the environment may beobserved remotely by additional devices in the network 69.

After the environmental light 48 has been sensed by at least one sensor,which may be an LED included in an array 39, the lighting system 10 mayanalyze the environmental light 48. A number of signal processingoperations have been discussed in the referenced and incorporated U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/269,222. Additional signal processingoperations may be included to recognize one or more pattern relative tothe environment.

The data detected and analyzed from a single light emittingsemiconductor device 40, a plurality of light emitting semiconductordevices 40 included in an array 39, or a plurality of light emittingsemiconductor devices 40 connected through a network 69, can be furtherprocessed to extract additional information. Wavelength and intensityinformation may be distributed throughout a digital neural network foran in-depth analysis and identification of a source of interest. Aneural network will be discussed in more detail below.

The controller 61 may analyze the data detected by the sensor, which maybe an LED, to identify one or more condition of the environment. Acondition of the environment may include objects, substances, or livingbeings in the environment. In an embodiment, identification may includerecognition of one or more object, such as, but not limited to, largevehicle, small vehicle, people, a specific person, animal, substance andother conditions of an environment that could be identified.

The light emitting semiconductor device 40, or another sensor, may senseenvironmental light 48 including a plurality of wavelength ranges. Adominant wavelength may be included in the wavelength sensed by thelighting system 10. The dominant wavelength may be indicative of adesired condition to be detected in the environment, such as, forexample, color. The dominant wavelength may additionally be used tosense the presence of a substance in an environment, as the controller61 may detect the presence or absence of the dominant wavelength fromthe sensed environmental light 48.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the dominant wavelength maybe defined by the controller 61. The controller 61 may be programmed todetect dominant wavelengths that can be associated with a specificcondition to be sensed in the environment. The sensed condition mayinclude the presence of a substance, for example, and withoutlimitation, a gas, biological agent, explosive compound, neurotoxin,element, chemical composition, smog, particulate, or other substance. Aperson of skill in the art will appreciate additional conditions thatmay be sensed by detecting the presence or absence of a dominantwavelength, which is intended to be included within the scope of thepresent invention.

An object may be recognized or identified with various levels of clarityand resolution. For example, in an embodiment that includes a neuralnetwork, the resolution of an identified object may be relative to theamount and quality of the information provided to the neural network. Anetwork of many nodes, each node including a controller 61, lightsource, and sensor, may provide enough resolution to allow for theidentification of a person with a medium degree of confidence (80% orabove), or a high degree of confidence (95% of above).

An artificial neural network, commonly referred within the art, simplyas a neural network, may include a plurality of interconnected nodes toshare the collection and processing of data. Each node in a neuralnetwork may operate similar to the neurons of a biological neuralnetwork, processing information using an interconnected network ofsimple units. The neural network may use a learning procedure, such asparallel distributed processing, to improve the accuracy of the analysisperformed by at least one of the nodes included in the network 69. Aperson of skill in the art will appreciate additional learningprocedures, in substitution or addition to parallel distributedprocessing, to be included within the scope of the present invention.Additionally, skilled artisans will appreciate additional artificiallearning procedures that may analyze a determination to improve theaccuracy of subsequent determinations to be included within the scope ofthe present invention, such as but not limited to, machine learning.

The choice of the neural network for recognizing and identifying anobject may be based upon the configuration of the network 69 of nodes,each of which may include a controller 61 and at least one lightemitting semiconductor device 40, for example, an LED. The selectionprocess for selecting a type of neural network may begin with a detailedanalysis of a certain number of input data streams for LEDs relating tothe sensed environmental light 48. The neural network may then focus ondetermining correlations of LED responses with exposure to theirrespective light sources. LEDs spaced relatively far apart from eachother will likely exhibit low correlation among different LEDs.Conversely, LEDs placed in an array 39 very close to each other may showhigh correlation numbers. The objective is to find the LEDs with thelargest responses and correlations to enable achieving the highestperformance in any subsequent neural network.

To operate effectively, a neural network may be trained to recognizedifferent objects. More specifically, a neural network may be trained toidentify one object from another of similar, but not identical,characteristics. The training may be performed using various techniques,such as, for example, use of back propagation of gradient-descentcomputed error corrections for weights and biases. The back propagationtechnique may involve feed forwarding an input training pattern,computing the associated error between computed outputs and trainingvector outputs, back propagating the associated errors, and adjustingweights and biases.

In an additional embodiment, machine learning may be used to improve theaccuracy of the analysis performed by the controller 61. As will beunderstood by skilled artisans, machine learning may include a series ofanalyses performed by a computerized device, such as the controller 61,which may allow the computerized device to evolve its predictions basedon empirical data included in memory 64 or detected by sensors. Inembodiments of the present invention, the controller 61 of the lightingsystem 10, or collectively the controllers 61 of each node included inthe lighting system 10, may be included as the computerized devices toanalyze the environmental light 48 data detected by one or more sensor.

The controller 61 may make predictive determinations based on rules thathave been dynamically created through data programmed in the memory 64and the recording of feedback relating to prior determinations. Throughinductive inference, the lighting system 10 may classify the sensed datausing pattern recognition. This classification may allow the lightingsystem 10 to learn, or become more likely to automatically recognize,complex patterns. Through machine learning, the lighting system 10 mayadditionally distinguish between patterns, allowing one or morecontroller 61 included in the lighting system 10 to make an intelligentprediction on the data received by the sensor.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the lighting system 10of the present invention may include various additional operations anddeterminations to improve the execution and accuracy of the analysisperformed on the environmental light 48 sensed by the sensor andtransmitted to the controller 61. As a result, skilled artisans will notlimit the learning techniques to the aforementioned examples of neuralnetworks and machine learning. Instead, those of skill in the art willappreciate a plethora of additional branches of advanced computing andartificial intelligence, including analyses based on pattern recognitionand error detection, to be included within the scope of the presentinvention.

As previously mentioned, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the lighting system 10 may include a plurality of nodesconnected through a network 69. Each node may include at least one of alight source, sensor, and controller 61. Skilled artisans willappreciate that the light source and the sensor may be included as alight emitting semiconductor device 40, such as an LED. The nodes mayintercommunicate with one another through the transmission and receiptof data light 45. If a node receives data light 45 that is addressed orintended for another node, the unintended recipient node may rebroadcastthe data to be received by another node, such as the intended node.

The nodes in the network 69 may communicate, for example, bytransmitting a digitally encoded data light 45 among the nodes in thenetwork 69. The data light 45 may include modulated or otherwisecontrolled pulses, which may include transmittable data. The data light45 may be modulated using pulse width modulation (PWM), pulse intervalmodulation (PIM), or an additional modulation technique that would beappreciated by those of skill in the art.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the datatransmitted in the data light 45 may be transmitted at a high data rate.To accomplish high data rates, the lighting system 10 may increase thequantity of data transmitted per channel and/or increase the number ofchannels.

To increase the data transmitter per channel, the data light 45 may betransmitted with an increased modulation frequency signal. The morefrequently the data light 45 is be modulated between the active andinactive states, or between logical ones and zeros, the more data may betransmitted to a receiving node in the network 69. To achieve increasedfrequency modulation, the light source emitting the data light 45 mayuse rapidly decaying modulation techniques. In embodiments that includean array 39 of light emitting semiconductor devices 40, the rapidlydecaying modulation may be accomplished, for example, by distributingthe transmission of data light 45 across multiple light sources includedin the array 39. The controller 61 of the lighting system 10 maydistribute the emission of data light 45 among various light sources.The controller 61 may overlap switching between active and inactivestates across multiple light sources, which may advantageously providefaster switching than would be achieved by using a single light source.Additionally, including high speed switches may allow further increasedswitching, which may correspond to increased data rates.

The data light 45 may include at least one channel through which datamay be transmitted. For example, a single channel transmission of datalight 45 may occur at or about 445 nanometers. Using a single channel,the theoretical maximum rate at which data light 45 may be transmittedmay be bound by the rate at which the single channel may be modulated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the data light 45may be modulated across a plurality of channels. Each channel of datalight 45 may be defined respective to a characteristic of that channel,such as the wavelength of light at which the data light 45 istransmitted. Additionally, each channel may be directed to one or morenode within the network 69. In multi-channel transmission of data light45, all channels may be directed to the same node. Alternatively, anumber of channels of data light 45 transmitted from a first node may bedirected to any number of separate nodes, each of which receiving one ormore channels of data light 45. Nodes may address one anothersequentially and/or in parallel. In other words, each node may addressone or more additional nodes substantially simultaneously bytransmitting data light 45 over a plurality of channels.

Referring now to FIGS. 42-43, an example of a five-channel transmissionof data light 45 will now be discussed. The five-channel transmission ofdata light 45 may include five streams of data to be received by anothernode in the network 69. The five data channels may be transmitted atfive different wavelengths of light. The wavelengths of each datachannel may be generated by including various conversion materials 30A,30C, 30D, 30E, and 30F adjacent to one or more light sources, such aslight emitting semiconductor devices 40.

More specifically, and provided without limitation, the five channels ofdata light 45 may be transmitted at 445, 460, 485, 495, and 510nanometers. These wavelengths may appear visually similar to humanobservers, yet would be very distinct to a sensor configured to detectthe discrete wavelengths. Each channel of data light 45 may be emittedby a respective light source, or wavelength conversion material 30 thatmay receive and convert the illuminating light 44 from a light source,at the appropriate wavelength. The channels of data light 45 areillustrated in FIG. 43, with each channel correlating to a conversionmaterial 30 applied to the array 39 of lighting emitting semiconductordevice of FIG. 42.

Additionally, each sensor may discretely detect the data light 45 ateach wavelength respective to the channel it has been emitted.Optionally, the lighting system 10 may use a wavelength conversionmaterial 30 to convert environmental light 48 prior to being detected bythe sensor. The detected channels of data light 45 may then becommunicated to the controller 61, which may combine the data from eachchannel to receive the data included in the data light 45.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that embodiments of the presentinvention may include any number of channels at which data light 45 maybe transmitted. Additionally, a person of skill in the art willappreciate that virtually any wavelength, or range of wavelengths, maybe used to include light at a given channel. As such, a person of skillin the art will not view the use of three channels, or the specifiedillustrative wavelengths of each channel, as limiting the presentinvention in any way.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sampling rateat which the environmental light 48 may be detected can be variable. Thesampling rate may be varied manually, dynamically, and/or according to apredetermined pattern. For example, if the lighting system 10 detectsthat minimal changes exist between sampling periods of the environment,the lighting system 10 may decrease the sampling rate at whichenvironmental light 48 is detected. Alternatively, if the lightingsystem 10 detects a high degree of variance between sampling periods,the lighting system 10 may increase the sampling rate to detect changesin the environment with an increased level of detail.

According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the datalight 45 may be transmitted at one or more bit rate. The bit rate may beadjusted relative to a plurality of factors, including the quantity ofdata to be transmitted, the quantity of errors detected in the datatransmission, distance at which the data may be transmitted, or anynumber of additional factors that may affect data transmission bitrates.

As an example, the bit rate at which data light 45 is transmitted may bedynamically variable according to the type and quantity of data beingtransmitted. As an example, the node may transmit a series of imagesdetected from the environment to another node. The image may includevarying levels of detail, which may correspond to a varying quantity ofdata to be transmitted. As the quantity of data needing to betransmitted may vary, so may the bit rate at which the data may betransmitted. Inclusion of a dynamically variable bit rate may allow forthe allocation of additional data transmission resources for morecomplex, and therefore data intensive, portions of a data transmission.Similarly, a dynamically variable bit rate may conserve the amount ofdata transmitted for relatively simple portions of a data transmission.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the data includedin the data light 45 may be compressed prior to transmission to anothernode, or other device, in the network 69. Additionally, the data may bedecompressed after it has been received by a node. Data compression mayreduce the amount of data to be included in the data light 45, furtherincreasing the effective amount of data that may be transmitted using achannel of data light 45. Skilled artisans will appreciate datacompression, as many methods of which are known within the art.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a node maydetermine its location the environment with respect to other nodesconnected in the network 69. A node may also determine the location ofother nodes in the environment. Multiple nodes within the network 69 maybe aware of a plurality of details relating to additional nodes in thenetwork 69, including the location, operation, and status of therespective nodes.

A node may use a location determining operation, such as, for example,triangulation, to determine its location in an environment. Usingtriangulation, a node may receive a signal from a plurality of othernodes. The signal may include information to be analyzed by thereceiving node to determine its location. For example, a signal used todetermine the location of a node may include an identification of thetransmitting node, an indication that the signal is transmitted todetermine a location, a time stamp from which a transmission delay maybe calculated, and/or additional information that would be apparent to aperson of skill in the art.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system10 may include one or more wavelength conversion materials 30 that aresensitive to wavelength ranges that may be emitted or absorbed by asubstance, such as a biological agent or bomb dust. Such a wavelengthconversion material 30 may be used in connection with the sensor, whichmay be a light emitting semiconductor device 40, to determine adifference between a detected level of an indicative wavelength rangeand the normal level of an indicative wavelength range. If thedifference detected is indicative of the substance, for example, thedifference being above a threshold level, the lighting system 10 maygenerate an alert which may be received by another device connected tothe network 69, or a user. Applications for this embodiment may includeairports, embassies, government buildings, base camps, or virtually anyadditional location wherein the detection of a substance in anenvironment may be desired.

The lighting system 10 may operate to detect the substance in anenvironment. The lighting system 10 may include a conversion material 30between the environment and the sensor to convert a difference inluminosity of one or more wavelength of light reflected, emitted, orabsorbed from a substance in the environment to be detectable by thesensor. The light source and the sensor may be included as a lightemitting semiconductor device 40, such as an LED. In the interest ofclarity, the following examples may refer to a light emittingsemiconductor device 40, or more specifically an LED, as the lightsource and sensor. Reference to a light emitting semiconductor device 40and/or an LED is not intended to be limiting the light source and/orsensor to be included in the present invention. Also, the accompanyingwaveforms have been provided as relative waveforms, and should not beconsidered limiting.

The detectable substance may reflect, emit, or absorb light within awavelength range respective to the substance. A conversion material 30may be included between the LED and the environment that is sensitive toa wavelength range corresponding with the wavelength range of thedetectable substance. Substances may include toxins, biological agents,contaminants, molecules, or virtually any other substance that mayabsorb or emit a detectable wavelength range of light.

Referring now to FIG. 44-45, an example of a substance detectionoperation will now be discussed. Illuminating light 44 may be emittedfrom a light emitting semiconductor device 40 into the environment. Therelative wavelength range of the emitted illuminating light 44 isillustrated in FIG. 45A. At least part of the illuminating light 44 maybe reflected from the substance 32 as environmental light 48. However,the substance 32 may absorb at least part of the illuminating light 44,resulting in a wavelength range of illuminating light 44 that wasoriginally emitted by the light emitting semiconductor device 40 notbeing included in the reflected environmental light 48. The reflectedenvironmental light 48 indicative of a substance 32 is illustrated inFIG. 45C.

The light emitting semiconductor device 40 may detect the environmentallight 48, which may be analyzed by the controller 61 to determine adifference between the emitted illuminating light 44 and the detectedenvironmental light 48. The difference is represented in FIG. 45E. Thecontroller 61 may then compare the wavelength range at which thedifference of light occurs with information included in the memory todetermine which material is present in the environment. Alternatively,the controller 61 may compare the difference of light with informationincluded in the memory of another device connected to the network 69.

Referring now to FIGS. 46-47, an example of a substance detectionoperation including a wavelength conversion will now be discussed.Illuminating light 44 may be emitted from a light emitting semiconductordevice 40 to be received by a conversion 30 material as source light 42.The emitted illuminating light 44 is illustrated in FIG. 47A. Theconversion material 30 may convert the source light 42 into a convertedlight 46, which may be emitted into the environment as illuminatinglight 44. The converted illuminating light 44, 46 is illustrated in FIG.47B.

At least part of the illuminating light 44 may be reflected from thesubstance 32 as environmental light 48. However, the substance 32 mayabsorb at least part of the illuminating light 44, resulting in awavelength range of illuminating light 44 that had originally beenemitted by the light emitting semiconductor device 40 not being includedin the reflected environmental light 48. The partially reflectedenvironmental light 48 indicative of a substance 32 is illustrated inFIG. 47C.

The environmental light 48 indicative of the substance 32 may bereceived by the conversion material 30 as source light 42 to beconverted into converted environmental light 46, 48, which may bereceived by the light emitting semiconductor device 40. The convertedenvironmental light 46, 48 is illustrated in FIG. 47D. The lightemitting semiconductor device 40 may detect the environmental light 48,which may be analyzed by the controller 61 to determine a differencebetween the emitted illuminating light 44 and the detected environmentallight 48. The difference is represented in FIG. 47E. The controller 61may then compare the wavelength range at which the difference of lightoccurs with information included in the memory 64 to determine whichmaterial may be present in the environment. The controller 61 mayconsider the preceding wavelength conversion as it performs analysis ondifference detected in the environmental light, for which it maycompensate. Alternatively, the controller 61 may compare the differenceof light with information included in the memory 64 of another deviceconnected to the network 69.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system10 may generate an alert upon the occurrence of an event. The alert maybe transmitted to an additional node included in the network 69, anotherwise network connected device, or displayed to an observer. Anevent that may initiate an alert may involve the detection of acondition in the environment, such as the presence of an object orsubstance. The event may alternative initiate an alert if a conditionrises above a threshold level, which may be predefined or dynamicallydetermined. The communication across the network 69 may be performeddigitally. Alternatively, the communication of an alert may be performedby emitting an alerting wavelength, or a wavelength that has beendesignate to indicate that an alert has been generated. Furthermore, analert may be communicated as the emission of visual light, for example,flashing red light upon the detection of a hazardous condition in theenvironment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a synchronizationsignal may be emitted among a plurality of nodes to synchronize theoperation of the nodes. For example, the nodes may be synchronized totarget, analyze, or confirm analysis of a condition of the environment.Alternatively, the synchronization signal may be used to synchronize theimages or other visual representations of the environment. Furthermore,the synchronization signal may synchronize the shared processing effortsacross at least part of the nodes included in the network 69. A personof skill in the art will appreciate a plethora of additionalsynchronization operations that may be performed with a synchronizationsignal after having the benefit of this disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the analysis of theenvironmental light 48 detected in the environment, or other conditionsdetected in the by a sensor, may be shared across multiple nodesincluded in a network 69. The shared analysis of data may be performed,for example, using distributed computing, which would be appreciated bya person of skill in the art. Generally, distributed computing mayorganize a complex computation into multiple discrete computations, eachof which may be distributed to one or more nodes across a network 69 tobe performed in parallel. After the discrete computations have beencompleted, they results may be combined to a result from the complexcomputation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wavelengthconversion material 30 may be included between the light source and theenvironment to create a biologically affective light. The source light42 may be a light emitting semiconductor device 40, such as, forexample, an LED. The biologically affective light may include one ormore wavelength ranges that may induce a biological effect in anorganism. As an example, a conversion material 30 may be included toconvert a source light 42 into a converted light 46 includingwavelengths that increase the production of biological chemicals thataffect alertness, such as melatonin.

A non-limiting example of selectively introducing a biologicallyaffective wavelength range into an environment will now be discussed. Inthis example, the lighting system 10 may detect that a person is presentin the environment. The lighting system 10 may make this determinationby analyzing information received from detecting the environmental light48. Such information may include heat signatures, proximate variance,movement, images, videos, patterns, or other detected information. Thelighting system 10 may then enable one or more light source with anadjacently located biologically affective conversion material 30 to emitbiologically affective converted light 46. The biologically affectivelight may induce the onset of sleepiness for the people in theenvironment. Due to the effects of sleepiness, the people in the roommay become less alert, slowing response times, and providing for atactical advantage for any subsequent operations performed in thatenvironment.

The following embodiments are intended to illustrate the components ofthe present invention in operation, wherein the lighting system 10 maysense one or more condition present in the environment by sensingenvironmental light 48. A person of skill in the art will appreciatethat the following embodiments are included in the interest of clarity,and are not intended to impose any limitations on any of the embodimentsthe present invention. After having the benefit of this disclosure, askilled artisan would appreciate additional embodiments consistent withthe scope and spirit of the invention described in this disclosure to beincluded herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 48-51, an embodiment of the lighting system 10including an array 39 to detect and compare a series of images withmoderately low resolution will now be discussed. In this embodiment, thelight sources and sensors may be light emitting semiconductor device 40.The light emitting semiconductor devices 40 may be configured in aneight-by-eight square array 39. However, skilled artisans willappreciate that any number of light emitting semiconductor devices 40may be configured in an array 39 of virtually any shape, as it may beincluded in single- or multi-dimensional configurations.

Operation of the light emitting semiconductor devices 40 included in thearray 39 may be selectable between emitting illuminating light 44 anddetecting environmental light 48. The light emitting semiconductordevices 40 may be selectable between emitting and detecting at intervalsindependent of one another, overlapping intervals, or substantiallysimultaneously. Additionally, the light emitting semiconductor devices40 may be selectable between emitting and detecting repeatedly,effectively cycling through periods of light emission and detection.

As one or more light emitting semiconductor device 40 may detect theenvironmental light 48 in the environment, the light emittingsemiconductor device 40 may transmit data regarding the detectedenvironmental light 48 to the controller 61 for analysis. The controller61 may concatenate each point of data, as may be sensed by the lightemitting semiconductor devices 40, to create an image. The image mayhave a resolution relative to the number of light emitting semiconductordevices 40 included in the array 39 and the number of points in theenvironment from which environmental light 48 may be sensed by eachlight emitting semiconductor device 40.

Referring now to FIG. 48, an illustrative image sensed by the lightingsystem 10 will now be discussed. This illustrative image may have beendetected by a fixture located above a target environment, facingdownward. The relative luminosity of light detected in the environment,which may be indicative of an object being located in the environment,may be represented by a scale of values. In the present illustrativeimage, the scale of values ranges from zero to four. However, a personof skill in the art will appreciate that the scale of values may includeany number of intervals between a minimum and maximum value.

A plurality of objects may be located in the environment. A first andsecond object may be located approximately in the top half of the areato be sensed by the lighting system 10. Since the tallest point of theobject may be located near the object's center, the amount of lightreflected from the environment proximate to the object may be greaterthan other points wherein the object is not present. Additionally, athird object may be located approximately in the bottom left portion ofthe area to be sensed by the lighting system 10.

In the example illustrated by FIG. 48, the light emitting semiconductordevice 40 may sense a saturating amount of environmental light 48 fromthe first object at location (3,5), with varying levels of luminositysurrounding the saturated areas. The light emitting semiconductor device40 may sense a saturating amount of environmental light 48 from thesecond object at location (6,6), with varying levels of luminositysurrounding the saturated areas. Furthermore, the light emittingsemiconductor device 40 may sense a saturating amount of environmentallight 48 from the third object at locations (3,1) and (3,2), withvarying levels of luminosity surrounding the saturated areas.

The controller 61 may process the levels sensed by the light emittingsemiconductor devices included in the array 39 to determine that anobject is present in the environment that the lighting system 10 maydetect. The controller 61 may then, for example, control the lightemitting semiconductor device 40 to increase the emission ofilluminating light 44 as a result of an object being present in theenvironment. The controller 61 may additionally analyze the proximatevariance, which may be used to determine the location and movement ofthe objects, to make a determination of condition in the environment.For example, the controller 61 may determine that the first and secondobjects are likely humans engaged in a conversation. The lighting system10 may then enable a microphone, which may be included in, or connectedto, the lighting system 10 to sense an additional condition of theenvironment, such as conversation dialog in the present example. Aperson of skill in the art will appreciate additional sensors that maysense information from an environment that would be included in thescope of the present invention.

Additionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the lightingsystem 10 may communicate the sensed conditions by using the datacommunications discussed above, such as transmitting data through aseries of pulsed light emissions. The lighting system 10 may transmit orrelay the information sensed by the additional environmental sensors toone or more additional node, which may be included in the network 69.

The lighting system 10 may continue to sample the environment by sensingthe luminosity of environmental light 48 present in the environment. Bycontinually sampling the environment, the controller 61 may analyze thesensed environmental light 48 to make further determinations regardingthe conditions of the environment. Additionally, as additional nodes maybe added to the network 69, the computational power of the network 69 ofnodes may be increased, respectively. This increase of computationalpower may be accomplished by, for example, distributed computing.

Light emitting semiconductor devices 40 may comprise differentsemiconductor materials and/or be located adjacent to differentconversion materials 30 to detect the luminosity of light relative todifferent wavelengths. These wavelength based luminosities may beanalyzed by the controller 61 to generate an image respective to thedifferent wavelengths. An example of an image representative of multiplewavelength ranges may include a color image. Referring additionally toFIG. 49, the relative luminosity of each sampled point in theenvironment may be converted into a visual representation, which may usecolor or shading to represent the luminosity and wavelength levelsdetected in the environment.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 50, a subsequent image mayadditionally be sensed by the lighting system 10. The subsequent imagemay be sensed similar to the sensing operation described in relation toFIG. 48. Referring to FIG. 50, a subsequent sensing operation may sensethe objects located in the environment. In this example, the first andsecond objects may be located approximately in the same positions aswherein the environment was sensed or sampled in the example of FIG. 48.In this subsequent sensing operation, the light emitting semiconductordevice 40 may sense a saturating amount of environmental light 48 fromthe first object at locations (3,5) and (3,6), with varying levels ofluminosity surrounding the saturated areas. The light emittingsemiconductor device 40 may additionally sense a saturating amount ofenvironmental light 48 from the first object at locations (7,5) and(7,6), with varying levels of luminosity surrounding the saturatedareas.

The controller 61 may process the levels sensed by the light emittingsemiconductors included in the array 39 to determine that the first andsecond objects is present in the field in which the lighting system 10may sense. The controller 61 may additionally determine that the objecthave not substantially relocated since the last sampling period. Thecontroller 61 may, however, determine that the light reflective patternsof the objects are shifting slightly between each sampling period. Thecontroller 61 may additionally determine, for example, that thisshifting pattern is indicative of conversation.

The light emitting semiconductor device 40 may additionally sense asaturating amount of environmental light 48 from the third object atlocations (7,1) and (7,2), with varying levels of luminosity surroundingthe saturated areas. The relocation of the object between samplingperiods may indicate that motion has occurred. The controller 61 maythen, for example, determine that a third person or object is patrollingthe environment. The lighting system 10 may continue to detect imagesfrom the environment, which it may compare to other images to detectfurther patterns. For example, if the person at the bottom of the screencontinually moves in a substantially repeatable pattern, the lightingsystem 10 may determine with increased confidence that the person ispatrolling than simply crossing the environment.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the environmentallight 48 sensed by the light emitting semiconductor need not saturatethe light emitting semiconductor to result in a sensed condition in theenvironment. The controller 61 may analyze sensed environmental light 48that does not include a saturating amount of environmental light 48 todetermine a condition may exist in the environment. Additionally, aperson of skill in the art will appreciate that as the levels of lightdetected by the light emitting semiconductor may increase, the accuracyof the analysis performed by the controller 61 may correspondingly beincreased.

A sensed environment of FIG. 50 may be visually represented as an image,such as illustrated in FIG. 51. The images of FIGS. 49 and 51 may beconcatenated into a series of images, for example, to form a video witheach image being a frame of the video. The sensed image of FIG. 51 maybe compared to one or more other images sensed by the lighting system 10to determine patterns and differences between the images. The patternsmay be analyzed to detect conditions in the environment, such as thepresence of an object or person, movement, or other conditions.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an array 39 ofsensors capable of detecting a high resolution image, will now bediscussed along with FIGS. 52-54. In this example, an array 39 of lightsources and sensors, which may be included as a light emittingsemiconductor device 40, may be located on a plane facing a detectableobject. In the present example, and without limitation, the array 39 maybe included on one or more walls, positioned in alignment to the face ofa target person to be detected. A person of skill in the art willappreciate that one or more nodes including additional arrays 39 may becommunicatively connected at varying points in the environment toincrease the resolution of the images and other conditions detected fromthe environment.

Referring first to FIG. 52, an array 39 of sensors may detect an objectin the environment with an increased level of detail than FIGS. 49 and51 and other previous examples. As the lighting system 10 may sample anincreased number of points in the environment, the resolution of theresulting image may be correspondingly increased. Referring additionallyto FIG. 53, a further increased number of points being sampled by thelighting system 10 in the environment may result in a detected image ofincreasing resolution, which may clearly illustrate defining facialfeatures. The facial features, or other defining features of a targetperson or object of interest, may be used identify the person or objectof interest.

Referring additionally to FIG. 54, an image of further enhancedresolution may be detected with sufficiently enough sensors directed toan object in the environment. As mentioned previously, the sensors maybe may be light emitting semiconductor devices 40. The sensors may beconfigurable to focus on a small area within the environment to betteridentify the object. As presented in the illustrated example of FIG. 54,the object may be the eye of a person in the environment to beidentified. The lighting system 10 may recognize the presence of an eyein the environment, to which defining features of the eye may bedetected to identify the person with a high degree of accuracy.

Additionally, the sensors included in an array 39 may be focused on anarrow area in the environment by including a deformable orpiezoelectric substrate. For example, the lighting system 10 may detectconditions of an environment generally, indicating that a person existsin the environment. The lighting system 10 may then adjust the sensorsto detect environmental light 48 from an angle to focus on a more narrowarea within the environment, providing higher resolution. Essentially,according to the present embodiment, the number points from whichconditions of the environment may be detected would remain approximatelythe same, but the area in which the points are concentrated may bereduced to increase the resolution of an image.

The light emitting semiconductor devices 40 of the array 39 mayintelligently alternate between emitting illuminating light 44, andsensing environmental light 48. The direction in which each lightemitting semiconductor devices 40 faces may be movable, for example, byaltering the deformable or piezoelectric substrate. The lighting system10 may adjust the light emitting semiconductor devices 40 to emitilluminating light 44 in a generally forward direction during a portionof its duty cycle. This forward emission may advantageously make thelighting system 10 appear significantly indistinguishable from a normallighting device to human observers.

However, during an additional portion of the duty cycle, the lightingsystem 10 may sense environmental light 48 from a targeted space withinthe environment. The lighting system may sense environmental light 48from the targeted space with high resolution, such as to focus on anobject in the environment with enhanced wavelength detection. Duringthis focused detection, a substantial number of the light emittingsemiconductor devices 40 in the array may be positionable to face thetarget object in the environment. This targeting operation may allow thelighting system 10 to detect environmental light from an increasednumber of points within a concentrated space relative to the detectableobject. After the wavelength has been detected, the light emittingsemiconductor devices 40 may be positioned to again emit an illuminatinglight 44 in approximately the forward direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the lightsources and sensors are located around an environment in threedimensions, the lighting system 10 may detect a three-dimensionalrepresentation of the environment. The light sources and sensors may beincluded as a light emitting semiconductor device 40. A plurality oflight emitting semiconductor devices 40 may be distributed throughoutthe environment to detect the distance of an object in the environmentfrom the light emitting semiconductor device 40. A plurality of lightemitting semiconductor devices 40 may determine the distance to anobject from a plurality of angles, which may be located on a pluralityof planes. The controller 61, or multiple controllers 61intercommunicating across a network 69, may analyze the distances andangles detected by the light emitting semiconductor devices 40 in thelighting system 10 to determine the position of the object relative tothe three-dimensional space of the environment.

More specifically, and without limitation, a plurality of lightingemitting semiconductor devices 40, or a plurality of arrays 39 or nodesincluding light emitting semiconductor device 40, may be located withinthe environment to be sensed at differing locations. In thisconfiguration, the light emitting semiconductor devices 40 may be ondifferent planes within the environment to sense environmental light 48from differing angles and directions. One or more controller 61 mayanalyze the sensed environmental light 48 from the plurality of anglesand directions to construct a multidimensional representation of theenvironment.

The controller 61 may construct a one-dimensional representation of theenvironment, collecting information regarding wavelength, chromaticity,and luminosity. The controller 61 may also construct a two-dimensionalrepresentation, when may be an image or video, as described above.Additionally, the controller 61 may construct a three-dimensionalrepresentation of the environment, showing the relative location ofhumans, objects, and substances in the environment. The calculations ofthree-dimensional representations of an environment may becomputationally demanding. The computations may be distributed among thecontrollers 61 included in the network 69. In instances whereinadditional processing may be required to render the three-dimensionalenvironments, one or more additional controllers 61 or other processingdevices may be communicatively connected to the network 69.

Referring now to FIGS. 55-56, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the environment may be defined as a road or otherwisenavigable pathway. Skilled artisans will not view variations of thepresent embodiment to be restricted to road or other pathways on which amotor vehicle may be operated. The light emitting semiconductor device40 may be included in one or more streetlight 92 located near the road.The streetlight 92 may be located, for example, at least partiallyoverhead of the road.

Each streetlight 92 may be a node within a network 69 of streetlights92, which may collectively comprise the lighting system 10. The nodesmay intercommunicate with one another by transmitting and receiving datalight 45 or using another network communication protocol that would beappreciated by skilled artisans. The streetlights 92 may be able todetect the conditions of the environment, such as the road and objects35 located on the road. Information relating to conditions of the may betransmitted to a device connected to the network 69. Each node includedin the network 69 may detect conditions in an area of the environmentlocated within view of the node. A plurality of nodes in the network 69may communicate with one another such that they are aware of theconditions sensed by the other nodes, defining a field of view 93.

As a specific and non-limiting example, presented in the interest ofclarity and without the intent to limit the present invention in anyway, FIGS. 55-56 illustrate the use of streetlights 92 as nodes in anetwork 69. The streetlights 92 may detect an object 35, such as a tankin the present example, in the field of view 93. The streetlights 92 maybe programmed to generate an alert upon sensing a tank on the road,which may be communicated to a node or device connected to the network69 intended to receive the alert. The intended recipient node may belocated, for example, in a town away from the sensing street light 92,in a base camp, or included in another vehicle on the road.

Assuming the intended recipient node is a personnel carrier on the roadheaded in the direction of the tank, the lighting system 10 may alertthe personnel carrier that the present route may be dangerous. Thepersonnel carrier may include one or more node, for example, in theheadlights of the personnel carrier. The headlight nodes may receivedata light 45 broadcast from one or more streetlight 92 lining the road.An interface device onboard the personnel carrier may receive the alert,warning its occupants of the potential danger ahead and optionallysuggesting an alternative route.

Skilled artisans will appreciate additional examples wherein theenvironment may include virtually any area or space, such as, forexample, a room, base camp, ship, or city. Additionally, tracking of oneor more objects 35 in the environment may be desired. The tracking mayinclude geographic location information, operational status information,or any other information that may be associated with the object 35. Forexample, an operation command center may desire to track the locationand status of a personnel carrier across a city. The personnel carriermay transmit data light 45 through its headlights, which may be receivedand distributed by the network 69 of streetlights 92 located throughoutthe city. The data light may be repeated and/or relayed until it may bereceived by the operation command center. The data light 45 may includeinformation relating to the proximate location, fuel level, number ofpassengers, speed, or virtually any other communicable informationrelating to the personnel carrier.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lighting system10 may include night vision operation. The light emitting semiconductordevices 40 included in the lighting system 10 may broadcast a light thatis outside of the spectrum of light that is visible to humans, such asinfrared or ultraviolet light. Additional conditions of the environmentmay also be detected, such as heat signatures, by emitting and detectingnon-visible light.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more array39 included in the lighting system 10 may include a sensor, and not alight source. A light emitting semiconductor device 40 may be used asthe sensor, however it may be configured or controlled to not emitilluminating light 44. The array 39 of sensors may detect environmentallight 48 of various wavelengths, such as, but not limited to, infraredlight. Skilled artisans will appreciate that infrared light may beindicative of heat signatures, which may relate to one or more object 35detected in the environment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a low latency powersupply may be included in the lighting system 10 to supply power to thecontroller 61, one or more light source, and any additional componentthat may be included in the lighting system 10. The power supply mayhave a switching latency equal to or less than that of the slightsources included in the lighting system 10, such that the power supplydoes not restrict the switching speed, and thus potentially the samplingrate of the environment and/or the transmission speed of data includedin the data light 45. Additional efficient electronic components, whichbe defined by high switching rates and/or low decay periods, may beincluded in lighting system 10. Additionally, fast decay phosphors,fluorescent, or other wavelength conversion materials 30 may be used inthe lighting system 10 to provide fast switching between emission anddetection of light for each light source.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, additional devicesmay be connected to the network 69. The additional devices maycommunicate with one or more node included in the network 69. Anadditional device may communicate with the node using data light 45 oranother network communication protocol that would be appreciated by askilled artisan. Examples of additional device connected to the network69 may include, but are not limited to, a flashlight, keychain, watch,headlight, router, television, computer, pen, or virtually any otherdevice that may include a sensor, controller, memory, and optionally alight source.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications andembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A lighting system comprising: a lightsource operable to emit a source light; a sensor operable to senseenvironmental light from an environment; and a controller operativelyconnected to each of the sensor and the light source and configured toanalyze the environmental light sensed by the sensor to at least one ofdetect and generate data relating to a condition of the environment, thedata being transmittable in a transmitted data light; wherein the sensoris operable to sense the presence or absence of a dominant wavelengthcomprised by the environmental light; and wherein the controller isoperable to correlate the dominant wavelength with a substance.
 2. Thelighting system according to claim 1 wherein: the controller is operableto establish a normal level of the dominant wavelength indicative of thesubstance; the controller is operable to determine a detected level ofthe dominant wavelength indicative of the substance; and the controlleris operable to determine if a difference between the normal level andthe detected level of the dominant wavelength indicative of thesubstance is above a threshold level.
 3. The lighting system accordingto claim 2 wherein the controller is operable to operate the lightingsystem to generate an alert responsive to determining the differencebetween the normal level and the detected level of the dominantwavelength indicative of the substance is above the threshold level. 4.The lighting system according to claim 2 further comprising a networkcomprising a plurality of lighting systems connected thereto; whereinthe controller is operable to compare the difference between the normallevel and the detected level of the dominant wavelength indicative ofthe substance with information included in the memory of anotherlighting system connected to the network.
 5. The lighting systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to determinewhether light emitted by the source light and reflected by the substanceis comprised by the environmental light.
 6. The lighting systemaccording to claim 1 further comprising a conversion material operableto receive light reflected by the substance and emit a convertedenvironmental light.
 7. The lighting system according to claim 6wherein: the sensor is operable to sense the converted environmentallight; the controller is operable to determine a detected level of theconverted environmental light; and the controller is operable todetermine if a difference between the normal level of the dominantwavelength indicative of the substance and the detected level of theconverted environmental light is above a threshold.
 8. The lightingsystem according to claim 7 wherein the controller is operable tooperate the lighting system to generate an alert responsive todetermining the difference between the normal level of the dominantwavelength indicative of the substance and the detected level of theconverted environmental light is above the threshold level.
 9. Thelighting system according to claim 7 further comprising a networkcomprising a plurality of lighting systems connected thereto; whereinthe controller is operable to compare the difference between the normallevel of the dominant wavelength indicative of the substance and thedetected level of the converted environmental light with informationincluded in the memory of another lighting system connected to thenetwork.
 10. The system according to claim 1 further comprising aconversion material operable to absorb at least a portion of the sourcelight emitted by the light source and emit a converted light.